Feeling Weary? How To Reclaim The Joy Of Parenting

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We all know that parenting can sometimes be hard. The mess, the noise, the constant demands, the squabbles, the running around, the busy days, the long to-do lists, the worries.

Sometimes it seems as if the days pass by in a blur and you know that you have been on the go non-stop, but you have no idea what you accomplished. I remember what it was like to get caught up in all the rush and business. It is exhausting I know, but one of the most valuable lessons I learned as a Mom was to relax, let go, and have fun with my children.

The easy way to reclaim the joy of parenting

Today I want to encourage you to take a deep breath and step back from everything that weighs you down. Now let it all go. Call your children and go do something fun together. Rediscover the joy of having nothing to do but play. It’s time to reclaim the joy of parenting!

If you find this hard let your children be your guides. Children intuitively find the joy in life. They know how to play. They know how to live in the present and simply have fun. Still if you need some ideas to get started you might gather up your children and

If you are feeling weighed down with the cares of parenting, you will find that playing with your children will help bring back the joy you seem to have lost along the way. Sharing joy, laughter, and fun will help you to bond with your children and strengthen your relationship.

So go play. Have fun. Revel in the gift that is your family and experience the joy of connection.

What have you learned about playing from your children? What is your favorite playful activity? Please join the conversation.

“We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything, than when we are at play.” Charles Schaefer

Comments

Our favourite family time together is walking in the woods and playing hide & seek. It’s something that we can all do together and having 4 lovely children it means they can all join in! Andrew my hubby is the worst he actually loves it and so do the dogs! It’s a great way to be yourself with no worries and its free. As a child I was always out walking with my cousins and playing in Stoke park, The Chantry’s, St Martha’s, St Catherine’s. We are blessed here in Cornwall with stunning scenery and great woodland walks and I love the kids to be out in that environment it’s just something I have to do everyday 🙂

Sharon, what a delightful experience it is to read this post! The list of activities is a great jumpstart to percolate ideas. My inner child is hopping about with glee.

The invitation to play with the children in our lives also can be extended to grandparents, aunts and uncles, and godparents.

Being a Pooh Bear fan for decades, I enjoyed clicking on the Pooh Sticks link to read the history and description of the game.

Many years ago, I had a brief stint as a preschool teacher in a classroom of two- and three-year-olds. It was there that Iearned the joy of using shaving cream as a faux fingerpaint medium. This expressive form of play is all process and no product. Of course, it does require a smooth horizontal surface that will not be harmed + old clothes or a water resistant protective garment. I have used this mode also in creativity workshops with adults – – it is another opportunity for Fun.

I’m glad your inner child hops around in glee…mine too! I love the idea of playing extended to grandparents, aunts and uncles, and godparents. thank you. The shaving cream sounds like a whole lot of fun!

This is a great reminder, Sharon. I know I found it so hard when the kids were little to let go of all that needed to be done in order to do what was most important – spend time together, many times, just doing nothing. And to make matters worse, I actually spent years berating myself for not being more present in the moment, as if that would bring about a positive outcome. Now that the boys are grown, I have come to terms with the struggles and challenges of growing up (me, not them) and appreciate the totality of the experience. I found out about a month ago that I am going to be a grandma in about six months (twins) and I am so grateful that there are resources like yours to help make the next phase more memorable and more meaningful. I am so glad I found your blog and look forward to soaking up all of your insight and all of your inspiration – thank you for sharing 🙂

Thank you Gail 🙂 I think we mothers tend to berate ourselves far too much!! I have done the very same thing. Now I try to remind myself that I did the very best I could at the time and there were many things I did really well.
Twin grandbabies how wonderful! *happy dance* I think that grandparents play an important role in children’s lives. I am hoping to post about that in the future.

Love this – the all too forgotten natural ways of playing, with no gadgets,screens or even bought toys. Using imagination, creativity is the best form of real play. It opens us all up to unlimited joy and possibilities. Your list is wonderful – all the stuff we’re told that grown-ups don’t do {anymore}. This is for our (adult) sake as well. Being playful and fun brings balance and joy into our lives, all of our lives – children and adults. We all need it for happier and healthier lives.
Thanks for this great reminder; actually it’s more than a reminder. It’s bringing us back to what is so necessary and what we’ve gone so far away from in our stress-based and technology based society.

Isn’t it sad that we often loose the capacity to play as we grow up. You are so right when you say that play leads to happier and healthier lives. I still jump in puddles and delight in blowing bubbles, even though I don’t have young children around anymore 🙂

Sharon, what a delightful post! I absolutely love your list of ways to play. And although I don’t have young children at home anymore…I do look forward to the time when I can be a Grandma and just play, play, play with them! Woo Hoo! Thanks so much for sharing!

And a bonus – it can be relaxing to play with your children, or even just watch them play. My 4-year-old is loving jumping in the leaves and it never fails to make me laugh!Emma recently posted…Playing With Pumpkins – Weekly Kids Co-Op

I am reminding myself all the time to stop rushing to get things done. I have to remind myself to slow down and just be with them, they do grow so fast and the days do go quickly with them(with the exception of that day that seems to go on forever. Is it bedtime yet?!). I actually feel better when I do take the time to actually play with them 🙂 Reading books and crafting seems to be a favourite. My eldest girl likes to cook too 🙂Alicia – One Mother Hen recently posted…I got swag

Great post!
So true! I am on a bit of a mission at the moment to raise awareness of bringing back childhood fun. This would be a great post to link up to my #Letkidsbekids linky if you fancy linking on a tuesday?
Found you at #FriendlyFriday blog hopKaren Bell recently posted…A Sound Walk

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